Genius Brands International Expands Global Distribution Business With New Executive Appointment
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Jan. 16, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Genius Brands International “Genius Brands” (NASDAQ: GNUS) continues to build its global distribution business to support the upcoming launches of preschool series, Rainbow Rangers and Llama Llama, with Natalie Setton on board to spearhead the international content sales as announced today by Genius Brands’ Chairman and CEO Andy Heyward, to whom she will report. Setton will be based in London, UK.
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Setton is tasked with driving international sales of the Genius Brands’ programming library, including its recently debuted new hit CGI-animated series, Rainbow Rangers, which premiered in November 2018 to top ratings in the U.S. on Nickelodeon’s Nick Jr., as well as the Netflix Original preschool series Llama Llama, starring Jennifer Garner, which is currently in production on season two. Additional content sales under Setton’s charge include Warren Buffett's Secret Millionaires Club, created with and starring iconic investor Warren Buffett; award-winning toddler brand Baby Genius; adventure comedy series Thomas Edison's Secret Lab; and other projects currently in development.
“Natalie has amassed a wealth of experience and solid relationships with a vast number of global media platforms around the world to bring to her role at Genius Brands,” said Heyward. “As our strategy rolls out around the globe, and our operations continue to expand, Natalie is a perfect fit to facilitate our growth and success in the content distribution arena as we gear up for series rollouts in 2019 in territories all over the world.”
“I’m honored and excited to be part of the Genius Brands team,” added Setton. “I’ve been very much aware of Genius’s success and achievements with the development of timely and engaging content that not only entertains but imparts value and supportive messages to even the youngest of viewers. I am eager to begin working with the Genius Brands team to continue the upward trajectory, building on the company’s quality content distribution and partnerships.”
Since April 2016, Setton has served as Managing Director for Ludorum in the U.K. and has been with the company overall for over a decade. Setton has garnered outstanding achievements in each of her escalating roles with the company, including International Sales and Licensing (2008) and as its Commercial Director (2015). In these various roles, Setton was responsible for developing and implementing the company strategy for the exploitation of Chuggington, its computer-animated television series, and managed relationships with all major clients, including Disney US, BBC, TF1 France, Super RTL Germany, ABC Australia and Fuji TV in Japan. Ludorum was recently sold to Herschend Entertainment Studios, and she will continue to be involved in their business moving forward under her consultancy company, Set On Brands Ltd.
Previously, Setton spent two years in children's TV distribution as a Sales Executive responsible for the Asia territory working with other global children’s animated properties, including Little Princess, Transformers, and My Little Pony. A fluent Japanese speaker, she has also worked in Japan as an account manager in the travel industry.
About Genius Brands International
Headquartered in Beverly Hills, Genius Brands International, Inc. (NASDAQ:GNUS) is a leading global kids media company developing, producing, marketing and licensing branded children’s entertainment properties and consumer products for media and retail distribution. The Company’s “content with a purpose” brand portfolio, which is led by award-winning creators and producers, includes preschool properties Rainbow Rangers for Nick Jr. and Llama Llama for Netflix; award-winning toddler brand, Baby Genius; adventure comedy STEM series, Thomas Edison's Secret Lab; and financial literacy and entrepreneurship series, Warren Buffett's Secret Millionaires Club. The Company’s content catalog also includes the animated series, Stan Lee's Cosmic Crusaders, created with Stan Lee's Pow! Entertainment. Seeing the need to provide kids and parents with a safe viewing environment that offers premium enriching and engaging programming, Genius Brands launched the Genius Brands Network – comprised of Kid Genius Cartoon Channel and Baby Genius TV, as well as an exclusive Kid Genius Cartoons Plus subscription channel on Amazon Prime. The Network channels are available in approximately 80 million U.S. households via a variety of distribution platforms, such as OTT, set-top box, internet, and mobile. Through licensing agreements with category leading partners, characters from the Company’s properties also appear on a wide range of consumer products for retail. For additional information, please visit www.gnusbrands.com.
Forward Looking Statements:
Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Words such as "may," "might," "will," "should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "continue," "predict," "forecast," "project," "plan," "intend" or similar expressions, or statements regarding intent, belief, or current expectations, are forward-looking statements. While the Company believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on any such forward-looking statements, which are based on information available to us on the date of this release. These forward looking statements are based upon current estimates and assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), not limited to Risk Factors relating to its patent business contained therein. Thus, actual results could be materially different. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Michelle Orsi
Three.Sixty Marketing & Communications
(310) 418-6430
michelle@360-comm.com
INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT:
Michael Porter
PLR Investor Relations
212.564.4700
mike@plrinvest.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0c3e1954-aa32-4419-8f7e-d4c612030f17
Released January 16, 2019